The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-22
A Mob of Two Hundred Masked Men
Make an Assault on the Delphi Jail.
The Sheriff Refuses to Surrender the Keys.
and Member of the Mob Breaks the
Locks with Cold Chisel and Sledge.
Amer Green Taken from His Cell and
Driven Seven Miles in the Country,
In the Direction of the Spot Where the Crire
Was Committed, Where 1t Is Pretty Ger
tain He Was Hanged About Daylight.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
DELPHI Ind, Oct. 2L-About midnight to-
night q mob consisting of nearly two hundred
men made an assault on the Jail
for the purpose of securing Amer Green,
who was confined there awaiting trial for the
murder of Luella Mabbitt Green was brought
here Wednesday from Michigan City peni
Tertiary, where he had been placed for security
against such an attack. There has been little
fear here of mob. from the
fact that those who would be most
likely to undertake lynching lived in the ex-
treme eastern part of the county and in Casa
county, adjoining. and their preparations were
not known in Delphi. AS a consequence, the
sheriff took no extra precautions to guard his
prisoner, and when the assault was made he
had no one to assist him but one deputy.
The mob first formed line in the street sur
rounding the Jail to guard against any interfer-
ence from the outside. Then, without any de-
mand upon the sheriff. thsy hammered in the
wooden door leading into the residence part Of
the jail About twenty men, with handker-
rushed in and demanded the keys
to tho Jail proper. This refused.
and man with sledge hammer and cold
chisel began on the locks. Four locks were
broken and the doors forced. The opening Of
the last door, by automatic arrangement,
opened the lock of the cell in which Green
was confined, SO that when they reached the cell
they had only to swing open the door The
prisoner, who had, up to the time he heard the
mob approaching, maintained the coolest de-
meanor. now began to cry and to beg. His cries
were piteous In his desperation he wrenched
off q piece of water pipe with which
to defend himself. but four men made bold
dash and clutched his arms and throat so quickly
that he was unable to do them any injury.
He was then bound and hustled
off into a covered wagon standing
ready. The mob. which had, by this time,
gained q large number of recruits. then started
south across Deer creek. The wagon was driven
SO fast that those on foot could hardly keep up.
with it. After crossing the bridge south of town,
about seventy-fve wagons. which were in waiting
there, fell into the procession, and all started
for Walnut Grove. about seven miles east. and
not far from where the murdered girl lived.
Here the lynching will take place, but it will be
impossible to give any further information to-
night
When the sheriff found that the mob WAS on
him, his first move was to secure VIM. Walker,
who was in Jail awaiting trial accompice
of Green's. He was in the womens department..
and was easily and quickly put into the cupola
of the building, but the mob made demand
for him.
The whole affair was admirably planned
and executed. Ono man, who used tho
sledge-hammer, familiar with every de-
tail of the locks and cells. Members OF
the mob have been in town all day, but their
purpose was not suspected until they were at
work tonight.
Green's crime was committed in August. 1856,
when he abducted and is supposed to have
murdered Luella Mabbitt, daughter of
wealthy farmer in the eastern part Of Carroll
county. He fed to the West, where ne joined
his brother, Bill Green, who also
murderer and a fugitive from JUSTICE and
both were captured in Texas last July.
The particulars of the crime have been pub
lished very extensively. There has been the
greatest excitement in tho city, and at this
hour. e o'clock hundreds of people are still on
the street and at the jail